Distinguished Alumni 2023

Please join us in congratulating our 2023 Distinguished Alumnus, Mr. Paul Williams '80!

Paul serves as the President and CEO of Project for Pride in Living, and his career work is anchored in community building and supporting racial equity initiatives in the non-profit world and in local government. Paul's Twin Cities based non-profit builds the hope, assets, and self-reliance of individuals and families who have lower incomes by providing transformative affordable housing and career readiness services. In 2022, Project for Pride in Living helped 7,000 people with their services and programs. Mr. Williams was also named one of Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's Most Admired CEOs for his work at PPL. Paul also serves on a number of boards around the Twin Cities, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Destination Medical Center, and HealthPartners/Group Health Care, Inc.

Before his work at PPL, Paul served as the Deputy Mayor of St. Paul and worked as a grantmaker for The Minneapolis Foundation, The Saint Paul Foundation, and the United Way of the St. Paul Area.

Paul holds an M.A. from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a B.A. in government and philosophy from St. John's University.